If you’re looking to run fast and set PBs, you want one of the best carbon plate running shoes on your feet, and we’ve tested almost all of the top super-shoes available in 2024 (with the notable exception of the Adidas Pro Evo 1). In this incredibly long video we run through our experiences of the best carbon shoes going, giving you the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed decision on your next racing shoe.
Grab a drink, kick back, and enjoy. Or just skip to the shoe you want to know about by using the links below, because 60 minutes of carbon shoe chat might just be too much carbon shoe chat.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
01:25 – Nike Alphafly 3
04:03 – Nike Vaporfly 3
06:34 – Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris
10:20 – Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris
13:48 – Hoka Cielo X1
16:11 – Hoka Rocket X2
18:07 – Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3
20:51 – Puma Fast-R 2
22:42 – Adidas Adizero Pro 3
26:02 – Adidas Prime X 2 Strung
29:05 – New Balance SC Elite v4
31:43 – New Balance SC Pacer v2
35:41 – On Cloudboom Strike LS
39:14 – Saucony Endorphin Elite
41:28 – Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
44:21 – Brooks Hyperion Elite 4
47:41 – Kiprun KD900X LD
52:18 – Diadora Gara Carbon
54:31 – Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
57:20 – Under Armour Velociti Elite 2
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Hello and welcome to run testers my name Is Nick and this is our Roundup of the Best carbon plate running shoes for Racing available in 2024 in this video We're going to run through a host of top Carbon plate options in quite a lot of Detail it's a long video so strap in or Just skip to whatever shoe you're Interested in the most going to talk it Through with the other people on the Run Testers team we've all been testing Carbon shoes for ever since the original Vaporfly we've tested most of the top Shoes available on the market today so Of each shoe we'll run through the Details of the design give you our Thoughts on them where they maybe sit on The market and who they might be good For what kind of Races they might be Good for hopefully there'll be a carbon Option in there that will really suit You and your needs and you can give it a Try so we have tested a lot of carbon Shoes but we haven't tested absolutely Everything and there are a few notable Exceptions that won't be in this video Some that we haven't tested yet like the Outra vanish Carbon 2 you haven't be Able to get a hold of and most notably The Adidas Pro Evo one it's is Adidas's Top racing shoe the one that you see on The feet of their top Elite but it's Really expensive it's hard to get a hold Of it doesn't seem like a very consumer
Focus shoe compared to some of the other Options in the range but we will Endeavor to get that shoe to test that's Probably the biggest shoe that isn't in This video and then there are a few that We've left out because there's a lot of Shoes in this video already and they Don't necessarily feel like the top Option from their brand such as the on Cloud boom Echo 3 which we've left out Now because the cloud boom strike has Come out but there's still absolutely Loads of Comm shoes in the video you're Going to get your fill of carbon shoes And if you have any questions about them Just dive into the comments and let us Know okay Tom's joining me now and we're Going to talk about the Nike alphafly 3 A very big launch right at the start of This year the shoe that was used to set The marathon world record by Kelvin Kipton last year in Chicago very Impressive shoe one I like an awful lot Tom yous like the shoe but you still Have a big favoring for the alow one Right yeah I I think the alow 3 is a Good shoe um I just it doesn't quite Work as well for me as the Ally one does I like I really liked the you know Ally One's b a big meaty chunk of bouncy foam Um and you can really feel that bounce Al 3 is a little bit more subtle I think Um Definitely a fast shoe but for me it
Just doesn't have the bounce that I like From from a super shoe see I prefer the Ally through I think it's the best Version of the AL yet CU it's lighter And it has a smoother transition so for This version Nike got rid of the Decoupled mid it's now one continuous Midsole so you flow a bit more naturally I think from heel to 4f foot and then That engages those four foot pods a bit More effectively so those pods are the Big difference between the Ally and the Vapor fly they have a slightly firmer Feel under the forefoot they give you a Bit more kind of propulsive feel I guess Than the entirely zoomx midsole on the VAP obviously they both have carbon Plates as well but yeah I really love The Ally it was kind of my favorite Carbon plate racing show until the metas Speed Sky Paris came out I think it's a It's a really good shoe it's quite Different to the Ally 2 which Tom you've Not tested but that was quite a lot Heavier the Nike went for all out bounce Of that shoe and made it quite heavy and I think the ALF one is probably the Better bouncy one in the in the range so Far and then the ALF 3 probably moves a Bit closer to the vaporfly but still has A bit more probably a bit more bounce I'd say than the vaporfly still though Yeah yeah I'd agree I'd agree on that Yeah yeah it's still a bigger shoe uh
But not that much heavier these days so I think it is a really good all distance Racer gear a bit more towards the Marathon where obviously it looks Amazing in every big event because Nike Has a lot of very good athletes who use The shoe but in general I think it is a Very good shoe but also exceedingly Expensive even for a carbon plate racing Shoe yeah one good one big point that I'll mention about that is that I Haven't ripped the bottom off of that Shoe and I've done quite a lot of miles In it so that's a big big big positive For the alha 3 yeah we will be covering Tom ripping shoes up in new course don't Worry about that there's plenty of shoes To come you did actually use the AL fly 3 for Boston didn't you this year Tom But that wasn't your best race right you Just basically didn't have a very very Good race uh I didn't have a very good Race no but I did notice that I did Think when I was running it I wish I was Wearing the ALF ones um but I don't Think it I it wouldn't have had a Massive impact on my overall time that Was mainly down to my own training and Lack of ability at that point but um Yeah very strong first 10K downhill Though so at least you got that yeah All right so then we'll move on to Nike's other shoe uh which is the Vaporfly 3 this came out last year this
Is a bit different to VAP Fly 2 so Nike Added a bit more stack and reduced a Little bit of outside rubber and we are Going to talk about outside rubber with Tom don't worry um but I think it made It slightly softer shoe I like it more Than the vaporfly 2 well it's quite Close but I like the vaporfly 3 a bit More because I suppose I focus more on Longdistance races and I think the Vaporfly 3 is a slightly better Marathon Shoe I around the London Marathon it Last year vfly 2 is still a great Marathon Sho obviously and a bit firmer But fly 3 You' now got a really Lightweight shoe that has a lot of Cushion I think it's a really good all Distance racing Shoe now I like bounce and softness um I Think the vaporfly 3 is softer than the Vaporfly 2 and the one um but I did find That that softness felt a little bit Energy sapping for me I I felt that is a Little bit less bouncy and Speedy for me Um especially over like half marathon Distance I really noticed that that Phone was compressing a bit more than I Was wanted to I still think it's a great Shoe um and definitely you know if you Wore the three over the two you're not Going to have a massive difference but I Still think the two is superior Interesting I don't you how how easiest To find the two these days probably
Still out there especially around Black Friday but I really like the three I Actually ran a 4.8k leg of a relay in it And it was very close to my 5K PB Pace I Wasn't really expecting to run that fast Like I say Rand the under Marathon I Think it's got loads and loads of range It's definitely though one of the least Durable shoes I would say of the car Think so Tom's rip the outsole off like He does lots of shoes but even if you're Not going to rip the outso off entirely The outso is very minimal and it's going To degrade quite quickly I'd say I think You still keep the bounce in the shoe For quite a while I think I've got well Over 100k on mine and it feels bouncy But that outsoles a bit of a problem Isn't it Tom I WR mine off within the The first 9k that I ran a race the first Time I used it was in Worthing 10K and That 9k had come off uh look at and I Stopped and picked it up and used some Shugu and put it back on and it worked It's worked for a bit longer but um it's It's not as good as it started basically That 1K of running without an outsole on It it really did ruin the mid yeah it Was horrific to see it straight away and But you're not alone this one like you Do this to loads of shoes but this is Definitely one that lots of people have I think have trouble with so a ring shoe You probably save for race day one that
Actually is often in sales these days as Well so can potentially be a little bit Of a bargain in the carbon shoe racing World but yeah I I consider it right up There in my top tier of carbon shoes Probably you know the top five or so but Lots of people aren't so sure about it But then it's still the shoe you're Going to see on most people's feet at Races so that tells you something as Well mhm all right I'm now joined by Kieran and we're going to talk about Probably my favorite new shoe well Definitely my favorite new carbon shoe Of the year the aex metas speed Sky Paris got Kieran on because both of us Actually ran our marathon PBS in this Shoe aex reig the shoe compared to Previous models by putting a new foam in The midsole which is FF turbo plus which Is lighter bouncier and a bit softer Than the previous foam used on the metas Speed series it's one of the most Lightweight carbon shoes on the market It's still really protective and you Know bouncy and everything and all round The shoe that we've loved using Kieran Talk us through your use of it LC and Manchester Marathon wasn't it for the PB Yes so I this is this I think is one of My shoes of the year for sure I ran the Manchester marathon in 254 something um Which was quite that's a big kind of Well a three minute PB I'm saying that's
A big PB but it was decent for that and I also went on a couple of weeks later To run a 5k PB in it as well 17 Something and it's been a long time Since I've broken both of those records And this a shoe delivered everything That I think you want in a in a race Shoe you know it's it's light it's got That kind of snug race fit without Feeling uncomfortable you feel kind of Held and you know held on the base of The shoe um it's it's basically light Racy comfortable snug fitting but not Too fussy and then it's got that kind of Ride energy that I think just it's one Of those shoes that kind of begs you to Go faster and really looks after you When you do some of the thoughts I've Had about it it's sort of not reminisce Sort of back to almost like a vaporfly Too for its it's kind of ground contact And its sort of slight directness but There's this real kind of stiff Propulsion that I think you get out of The that kind of midsole ride along with The plate and there's like Precision Agility but also just I could really Forget I was wearing it and I don't Think that's true of all carbon shoe Sometimes when I'm racing I feel like I The shoes can be doing a great job for Me but I am aware that they're on and I'm kind of having to work with the shoe This just let me get get and go about my
Business and yeah with all the energy And I think the other crucial thing for The marathon was in that last kind of Six miles I didn't feel any of that foot Fatigue that you might get again from Some carbon shoes it just carried me Through one caveat to that I ran well With good form from start to finish in That race pretty much so I'm not sure Whether or not I'd want to be in the aex Meta speed Sky Paris if I was you know Doing a a real kind of struggle bus home For the last six miles whether it's got The protection that some others have but I think when you're running really well I don't think right now there many shoes That I've tested that are better yeah I Just think it's I think it's going to Spearhead a bit of a movement back Towards very lightweight shoes I mean The Adidas Pro EVO One did that as well But I think shoes got bigger and Bouncier and the weight kind of gained As a result and now aex has got a shoe That feels that that level of Responsiveness in a much lighter design Which just just help especially when You're dragging yourself through those Last few miles you can keep turning your Feet over I found definitely with this That it did feel more natural and it was Easier to engage the plate it and get Back when I was tired at the end of the Race compared to the previous models
Where I felt like I really had to be Leaning into the shoe to get kind of the Bounce back from it there were still Really fast shoes but the Met speed Sky Paris like pulled on for our first run Liked it a lot and just was using it in A really hard block of marathon training Well my best track session ever in the Shoe I ran my Parker on PB in it as well So again it's got that range from 5K to Marathon for sure and yeah just loved it And ended up using it the lond Marathon Ran my PB of 227 and I think I've run my Best half in it but it wasn't my fastest Half so yeah in every basically the First half of the year just had a lot of My best dresses ever in the shoe and I Do think it helps a lot I think the only Downside to it is the colors are a bit Iffy and they're not always in stock but Other than that great shoe no more to Say about that it does have a limit Though Nick I saw somebody running in a Pair of them 100 mile Burly wall Ultra And I was like that's Brave that's Punchy so we just talked about the sky Now let's talk about the other ax carbon Plate racing shoe the aex metas speed Edge Paris this is the one that is Designed for Cadence Runners the idea Being that Runners that mostly increase Their Cadence when they start running Faster who don't necessarily have a long Loping stride length it's pretty similar
On paper all around now to the metas Speed Sky Paris with previous models of These two shoes there was a bigger Difference between them but now you've Got the same stack the same drop but a Different shape to the plate which is a Bit more scooped so it lowers more at The 4f foot which should give the Forfoot a softer feel and that kind of Thing and encourage this High turnover Style but Mike how do you find the edge Paris and compared to the sky Paris I Guess yeah I think this I think it Speaks volumes that these two shoes you Know met speed shoes are much closer Than they have been and I think that's Probably a bit of a compliment in terms Of what we've got from the sky and I Think bringing it close to that now I Don't know whether this has entirely Convinced me about the Cadence stride Thing um that you know this kind of Debate with the shoes you know I I Should be getting on better with the Meted edge Paris but I find I prefer the Sky Paris but they're both very good Shoes they're great weights you know They're super light two the lightest Shoes ultimately you can you know race In um at the moment and you know you get Those those qualities that you want from A racing shoe as well as it being light They're kind of bouncy aggressive you Know the kind of qualities that I want
In a racing shoe and I've you know had Some really good kind of long training Runs in these shoes I think they work For shorter distances as well they've Absolutely got that in their locker as Well too and I think I think key for me Crucially is that the the durability Boost I mean there's still going to be Shoes I would save for race day but I Think in terms of getting more mileage Out of them I think there is a little Bit more in the in what you're getting In the edge Paris and the Sky Paris but I think the edge Paris for me I actually Find that maybe it's a little bit firmer Feeling for me than for I maybe no That's kind of how my experience with The sky and the edge PR I've just found It a little bit more comfortable um the Sky price on those longer runs but I do Think that the edge Paris is definitely Compared to the previous versions more I Think uh accommodating for running Longer in and I think that's you know a Big kind of um you know hats off to aexs For trying to get it you know improving It on that front I think it also adds The argument I think ultimate is whether They need to have or we need to have Both of the shoes because I think Ultimate they're so close now I think There's minor things in it but I think You know there there's no doubt in the Edge Paris is a very accomplished fast
Light you know racing shoe it's just Weather you know it needs to still exist When these you know Sky Paris is such a Standout shoe so see I I've kind of Turned CU I was in that boat as well I Like they're coming very close together Now I prefer the sky Paris but I when I Did a track session running a series of M reps you know using both of them for Three miles in each of them and I could Feel a difference so the sky Paris I Prefer the sky Paris even though I Should be a Cadence run as well I feel Like I get more bounce and uplift off The toes of that shoe it really feels Quite special Edge Paris I feel a bit More kind of dry from the midfoot from The plate almost on it and it's not a Bad feeling I just I think I prefer this Well I think I prefer the sky Paris had Very good results in the sky Paris I've Done some comparative stats stuff in our Versus video find some more details There but they are very similar all Around but I think it's more a case of You try both they're both really good Shoes one might feel better to you and If it does go with the one that feels Better I think they're Pros seem to use A mix of their shoes now so yeah really There's two great shoes there try them Both if you can if you can't my my Instinct is to get the the sky Paris First but you know I wouldn't basically
I wouldn't read too much into the Cadence and stride thing I think it's Possibly a bit overblown that it's Really but they are slightly different Feeling and go with the one that feels Best if you have a chance to try both Mike has joined me now to talk about Some hoker carbon plate running shoes The first of which is the C X1 which I Think is the shoe I've actually done More miles in this year than any other Shoe well I absolutely love the shoe It's my favorite comp racing issues but It's not necessarily one that I'd pick As the absolute quickest Mike yeah I Mean I think I we've kind of spoken About I think Hawker has had a really Good year this year and I think it kind Of started with the clo X1 which is you Know a very different proposition to the Rocket X2 I kind of see it as kind of Hawker's equival the out flow not maybe Not exactly the same shoe but something That's going to probably give you a Similar kind of experience but you know It is a shoe that every time I've gone Out with I've just enjoyed running in it And I think there's it's just fun it's Lively it's bouncy it's it's a great to Kind of go run long in and I think Crucially for me I think particularly What we've seen this year is just Getting the combination of those kind of Foams in the mid sole right which I
Think gives you that really good Experience and I think you know it's a Shoe every time I picked up I've never Regretted kind of going out back in it And I know I'm going to have a good time In that shoe and I think it has enough In its Locker I know there's a thing About the weight and for me the weight Massively it's not massively an issue For me but I think you know it doesn't Get in the way of it you know just Having you know being a you really Enjoyable shooter running run quick in And I do think has capabilities to just Be a very fun fast shoe to run and still Despite those kind of little things that Are definitely against it maybe yeah It's got big peber midso two layers of Peber carbon plate really rocket design It's unbelievably bouncy it feels Probably as bouncy as any carbon shoe Out there I've done so much marathon Training in it like I've done my hard 24 Mile Run in it have also done some Really fast stuff like I've gone to the Track done really hard reps did the Hardest track session of my life in that Shoe and it went well and has got that Pace but when you see the weight on the Scales and you just think ah it's really Bouncy but you know like the meta speed The couple other shoes are like 50 60 70 G lighter I'll probably go with them for Racing but I don't think I think it does
Compensate for the weight with the Amount of Bounce It has I did a half Marathon racing it as well which well Wasn't an allout effort luckily because The laces came undone twice it's got Quite bad laces the clox one like Actually they've only come undone for me Twice in I think about 250 km of running But what both times was in races I think So it's like I don't know and I like Triple like you know everything but Anyway yeah I do think it's it's a great Shoe it's really f it's just maybe just Loses a little bit on weight and that Puts a bit of a question mark beside it For shorter races great Marathon option Though and then I suppose we might go Seamlessly into off that the Hoka rocket X2 which is their more lightweight Racing shoe it came out last year but It's still kind of top of the range for Them as their more lightweight racing Shoe still very well stacked still very Comfortable again peber midsole with a Carbon plate running through it it's not Two layers of P it's not got quite as Exaggerated a design as a yell X1 it's Fair to say it's a bit more of a Traditional looking and feel in shoe but Still a very good option and a really Fast shoe as well yeah I I kind of see It as a bit more kind of aggressive bit More responsive in terms of my Experience and I think that's how I kind
Of see it in terms of you know I think Me personally I would probably the C X1 Is one I would look to for running Longer and I do think it ABS can work For kind of shorter distances but I Think that would be the shoe I would Turn to of those two shoes to go for Kind of longer kind of marathon training Runs that's what I've kind of how I've Kind of used it I think the rocket X2 I Think it really is a nice short distance Kind of racer but it has the capability Now compared to the previous shoe I Think to you know having its Locker to Be a shoe that you can go longer in as Well and I think it's you know all the Kind of qualities you want in a carbon Race it's nice and light you know I Think in terms of that that that ride That you're getting there got a nice Kind of rocked feel to it as well and It's it's another kind of special shoe Kind of hookers kind of racing um kind Of options and you know range there and I think it's it's a different experience To the C X1 but I think it's still a Very good experience that it's really Nice you know a really nice shoot to run Fast in yeah it's uh relative low Drop Shoe compared to Lots on the market well Actually it's got similar stats to lots Of them it's one of the shoes I think Actually really feels low Drop it's got Very soft heel I find and that's going
To be good or bad depending on your Preferences but I know there are some Other low Drop shoes out there that Maybe feel a bit more rocket forward Whereas the rocket X2 does have kind of A flat feel but with all that bouncy Peber it's really good I'd say those are Probably hooker's first two really Serious competitive Carle Racing shoes The kind of first gens of them so I'm Really excited to see where they go from Here I think both of them are Exceptional shoes you can pick them up And racing them but maybe I'm even more Excited about what the next gen of the Clo and the rocket looks like cuz like Like we' been saying hog has had a Fantastic year in nearly every way and I Think they're going to keep improving Those shoes next up we've got the pummer DV8 Nitro Elite 3 I think this is one of The best new carbon shoes of this year And the first time I think that pummer Has released a races that really hits The standards and is you can say very Clearly this is as good as mostly other Races on the market I think they've got A new aliphatic TPU foam in it it's also Used in the pummer fast R2 it's a very Lightweight shoe it's got a pretty Traditional design for a carbon shoe Just a big old stack of a great foam Pretty standard continuous midell carbon Plate really lightweight very fast Tom
Great shoe right yes spot on yeah said It before the uh P pummer has never had Anything in its range that I would reach For if I was if I was going to go for a PB attempt at a race I wouldn't there There weren't any pummer shoes that I Would have picked up the pummer DV8 Nitro Elite 2 nice shoe I think I capped Out with that shoe maybe at 10K I Probably wouldn't go over 10K in that Just cuz it's a little bit firmer for me Uh than what I like from a shoe the the Three is brilliant standout shoe of the Year just they've really worked out how To compete with the other car plate Shoes on the market now and I think it's One of the top ones now and and might Even be you know the best option for Some people yeah it's got quite a normal Feeling ride actually you know it's got That propulsive feeling but it isn't so Outlandish we were just talking about The Muno shoe that's obviously a very Different proposition this is like a Shoe I think that most people will pick Up and it will work quite well so this Aliphatic TPU foam that pummer has put Big stock in with its latest carbon Plate racing shoes their latest version Of nitro Elite it's no longer using Peber phones which are obviously the Most common ones in top racing shoot These days but they say it delivers more Energy return it certainly feels like a
Very responsive Pham it's a little bit Firmer than some of the Foams on the Other shoes but not in an uncomfortable Way just gives you that resiliency that Lovely bounce back and then on top of All that you get pumer grip on the Bottom which is probably the best rubber You'll find on any racing shoe in terms Of actual grip so I've actually done a Kind of mix terrain RAC in the shoe half In like Woodland trails and half on the Road and it was great for that but it's Just flat out a far shoe good for short Distances but has got the the chops to Go for the marathon now because they've Increased the stack I compared to Previous models so and especially in the UK quite cheap coming coming in under 200 pounds pum are also a brand that are Notorious for sales where they don't Exclude shoes so do think this is one of The ones that's going to be a really Good value option that isn't just a Value option I do think yeah like like We saying it performs at a standard That's very high yeah if it if it gets Reduced like so many of pum shoes do I Think it could well be one that we see On a lot of people's feet at the start Of races in the in the next year or so Yeah great shoe great to see I I don't Think puber did this year was released That shoe with three carbon plates it's Great to see they're releasing you know
Very solid normal rating shoes as well As these more outlandish ones and on the More outlandish note there is the other Pum shoe release this year which is not As outlandish as the fast RB the the ru Breaking shoe this is the pummer fast R Which similar to the devi8 Nitro Elite 3 Increases stack I compared to previous Model made it more comfortable it still Got this very distinctive decoupled mids Design where you can see the carbon Plate in the middle but you've got the Aliphatic TPU in two different chunks so Pummer basically say the DV8 Nitro Elite 3 Suits some Runners better and then the Fast R2 suits other Runners better it's A bit more of a propulsive ride I think It's a bit of a heavier shoe but if you Have bit more power you can maybe sink In and get more back from it I think It's the shoe that a few pum athletes Were using to set PBS early on in the Year like rose Harvey or maybe that was Even the back end of last year but yeah It's it's another really good shoe and Improving what we've done before Tom you Have not used this one right I don't Think I have not no um did you use the First fast St you did didn't you I did Yeah yeah so that was a bit of a weird Shoe um but this is a lot more Comfortable again like the change from The dvet Nitro Elite 223 it's not a isue that necessarily
Suits me that well I've got a high Cadence Runner I think the more kind of Natural lightweight feel of the Puma Devi8 nit le3 suits me a bit better but It is a far shoe done a lot of hard Sessions in the fast R2 raced a park run On Christmas day with my Grinch socks on And that went very well so can't argue With that got a bble Tom did I ever tell You that got a wooden bble for being First finisher on Christmas day that Part run yeah yeah someone had someone Had made it it's very nice Um but yeah a really good shoe I just Think it's a harder one to recommend Than the DV8 Nitro because eight it's a Lot more expensive it's also heavier I Think some Runners will really unlock a Lot out of it by being maybe big Bounding Runners more powerful Runners Than I am but I think the DV8 Nitro leag 3 is just I think a better carb R the One I'd pick and recommend to more People but fastar another you know a Step in the right direction compared to The previous model Puma definitely Figuring things out and and a fun Looking shoe if you want something a bit More outlandish not as outlandish as the Rule breaker which is too outlandish I Think any shoe is outlandish as the the Rule breaker yeah that's very true next Up we're going to go through Adidas's Racing shoes not including unfortunately
The pro Evo one which none of us have Tested yet it's a bit of a weird one a That's because the main shoe they still Got in their range the main race legal Shoe anyway is the Adidas Adizero Pro 3 Which is a bit older now we've been Expecting the Pro 4 for quite a while Hasn't happened yet might to happen this Year but Pro 3 still stands up as a very Good carbon plate racing shoe with a big Light Strike Pro midsole and Adidas's Carbon energy rods running through it It's got a very durable design for a Carbon shoe something I've noticed for Sure but also a bouncy one works well For a range of races and is available Now quite cheaply because it is a Slightly older shoe so you can get quite Good deals on on the adios Pro 3 for Sure Kieran your thoughts on this shoe Yeah I mean this is this is one that I Don't often sort of reach for and I Think because it's sort of now slightly Older it's easy to forget about them but If you look around start lines marathons Halves comrades Ultra lots of races I See a lot of people still wearing this Shoe and that probably speaks volumes About its overall Capability I think it's an excellent Rtio now it's got the that really s of That big wedge of nice and Light Light Strike Pro foam that I think responds Fast with good amounts of energy there's
A sense of firmness to as well that I Think adds some immediacy to the return That maybe other shoes you're you've got A bit of compression it's coming back a Bit slower this one I think it's got Real kind of quick punch to it which I Really like it's a it's a shoe that I Would you know I'd happily go and race a Marathon again in it I think I pick the As6 metp price over this shoe but a lot Of that comes down to for me the fit and The uppers this is one area where I'm Not sure they quite nailed it I find it Quite hard to get a a sort of natural Feel on the foot I have to work the Uppers a bit it just doesn't feel quite As comfortable I also think that I you Know when I'm using the adios Pro 3 I Have to find The Sweet Spot so I'm Working a bit harder with a bit more Concentration to really engage that foam And those energy rods to get the most Out of the shoe um there's some there's Some kind of instability for me and a Bit of wobble particularly if I'm not Moving at my best pace and in my best Form but when you are I think they're an Excellent sort of capable race shoe uh Particularly for big sort of straight Line kind of City marathons where you've Got you know not too many twists and Turns and Corners half marathons that Kind of thing so yeah I think they're Still credible and I I actually think
When you're looking at how they would Compare now on price uh I think they Sort of remains a really interesting Carbon ratio in the mix yeah I think That's like these are shoe that I think Are really good but not one that I just Ever really clicked with like I have Racing the shoe I enjoy racing I enjoy Actually doing quite a lot of training It at points because I do think it's a Really durable shoe and it bounces Nicely it's one that probably veers a Bit more to longer races for me because I'm quite a shuffle Runner and I think You get a bit more booming balance from If you're a bit more of a Loper with the Adios Pro 3 ad also has the Tumi set in It range which is kind of kind of a Carbon shoe we haven't included it in This video anyway but uh that's a good Option for shorter races in particular It's one that I got with quite well cuz It's a fair bit lighter but I do think The Pro 3 is the superior all round Racing shoe than the Tumi and the best One you know widely available from Adidas at the moment it is a very good Shoe I just think it's one that I Personally haven't really clicked with So much but certainly one to consider And if you can pick it up for like Probably half the price of other new Racers then it's probably the smart Thing to do cuz you're going to get a
Very high level of performance there and Then the other shoe which is a bit newer From Is the prime X strung 2 now the original Version of this was you build as the Best racer in ad's range but it's Illegally high if you're an elite Because it had a 50mm stack I it's got You know massive wedge of Light Strike Pro foam you've got rods plates all Kinds of things going on with the Midol I think with the primex strung 2 I think They made it a slightly Tamer version of The primx and it almost ended up being a Super trainer in a way because it's a Shoe you can use quite readily for a lot Of training I'm not really sure though It's one that I'd personally pick a RAC In uh whereas the primx one I would have Because you know even though it was a Bit heavier than lots of shoes because Of the high stack out it still felt Really fast I think the primx 2 has a Bit more of a training feel to me what Do you think kin yeah I think you do Notice the weight I mean I I think it's Interesting that people have even drawn Comparisons between this shoe and shoes Like the hoker Skyward X I kind of see Them as sort of quite separate and Distinct I I I certainly wouldn't use The Skyward X for the same things that I Would the the strung two the strung two For me still feels like a a Sho that I
Would use to go fast race or fast Training even though it is Ian it's Markedly heavier than pretty much all The other carbon shoes and I think you Do feel that and some people will find That that limits what how they want to Use it particularly over those shorter Distances I'd happily race a marathon in Them I I think that they one thing I Really loved about the original Prime X TR was the way the uppers felt and I Really wanted those uppers on the adios Pro 3 they've now changed them and I Don't feel they fit quite as well They're not quite as easy and Comfortable I struggle to get a bit of Lockdown uh I also think this new Generation is a little bit less stable Than the original yeah I mean I've I've I' maybe I found it a bit more kind of Wobbly but perhaps yeah perhaps that's How I've been using maybe it's heavy I've been using it kind of at slower Paces where I engaged the first one a Little bit more like I raced marathons In the first one and did good times this One I've I've mainly used it just for Training um again that said I think it's Another shoe when you're Landing with Precision and with concentration and You're really working to get the right Energy out of the shoe I do think it Comes to life and again I I would Happily race in this in over a Marathon
Distance even though it would be kind of Illegal well legal for us anyway but uh There a thing yeah for me it's not Really a question of legality with it Like just for me I now his range would Much rather be in the adios Pro 3 for a Race just because just feels better to Me or this feels a lot more kind of yeah Like I say long runs great for long runs You know fast progression runs that kind Of thing I did mile reps in it at one Point I was by the end I was going I Could probably lose 50 gr here just and Not I wouldn't miss the bounce but um Yeah fun shoe and an interesting you Know line I think I definitely agree That I it doesn't feel like the sky X Sky X feels very much like a slow Training shoe really fun for that but Doesn't feel fast the primx definitely Feels fast even in this second model but Just doesn't feel fast enough for me to Justify going to this extra size and Having that kind of extra size of shoe On my foot yeah it's it's for me it's Definitely a shoe like it's wild and It's fun and it's kind of exaggerated And I I like all of that stuff about it But yeah may maybe now we've there are Shoes that You' you'd probably choose Over it for specific races next up we're Going to look at new balance's two new Carbon races that were released this Year and the first of which was the New
Balance SC Elite V4 now the SC Elite or Was called the RC Elite in early Editions has changed probably more than Any other carbon shoe over the space of Four generations it was a very strip Back lowprofile shoe at first then it Became really comfortable really cruisy With the RC Elite 2 then the third Version was a bit more strip back again A bit lighter bit a little bit more Rocked the S V4 is rocked but has a load Of foam and it's now a proper not proper It's now a full peber midsole bouncy Smooth fun Mike you ran the London Marathon this shoe I think in general What do you think of it yeah no and um Yeah I did London in it I did a lot of My training uh miles in it as well lot My longer runs and you know it's a very Different proposition to the previous Shoe which I think was a shoe that kind Of grew me I didn't absolutely love the Uh the previous shoe but I think it you Know the more time I spent in it I did Kind of appreciate obviously this is a Massively kind of overhaul B shoe Compared to that and I think ultimately The changes what it does do is it has Gone up a little bit in weight but I Think what you get I think on the Positive side is I think you get Something that is very controlled very Stable I think the midell feels a lot Nicer for longer distances and I think
Ultimately for me and the marathon it Worked absolutely fine it probably isn't As aggressive and as propulsive as some Of the shoes we'll probably talk about In this video but I think in terms of Being a more Marathon friendly um kind Of New Balance shoe I definitely think That's you know it's much closer than it Has been know the previous shoes and That's really what I took from it in my Experience it maybe isn't the you know The fastest shoe out there but I think Ultimately in terms of what I want to do In that race and I wanted something that Was going to be comfortable stable still Give you that kind of nice you know kind Of pepy kind of ride in there and roll You through really nicely those are the Qualities that I got from it in the Marathon and I think ultimately in the Training runs I did as well it just Feels I think the key thing I take away From it is a very accessible marath to But that doesn't detract from the Experience that you're getting which is A very polished one it's just competing I think against a lot of strong carbon Racing shoes that we've you know had in Test this year yeah I agree with all That thing I think it is a really Accessible shoe it's very comfortable it Is quite mellow for the amount of like Propulsion and punch you are getting There it feels like quite chilled on the
Foot but it still is delivering a fast Ride the only thing that isn't Accessible is potentially the heel Design which has chopped up some People's heels but I've been okay with It but um I think it's definitely one That leans much more towards those long Distances I have done like some done a Few workouts in it and you kind of Longer stuff in it I prefer the longer Stuff prefer workouts at my like Marathon race Pace rather than moving Anything faster than that I think it is A really cruisy shoe that protects legs Really well but yeah I think it maybe Lacks that Top Gear that you can get and The range you can get from other carbon Shoes and that might be partly because New Balance also has the SC Pacer V2 in Its lineup which has the same PE foam as The SE Elite before but a lower stack a Higher drop it's a shoe that they I Think worked with in particular with Emily Sison the American maratha and It's a bit more of an aggressive feel But it still has you know what is a very Soft peber foam in there the latest Version of this fuel cell foam we've Been testing this lately I've actually Liked it a lot um I've surprised me I Kind of grew to I didn't really love it At first it felt like just okay it's Just not quite as bouncy as the SC Elite V4 but actually I've come to warm to it
Quite a lot what do you think about the SC Pacer V2 mik as a as a carbon racing Shoe yeah well again it's it's a bit Like the SE Elite V4 it's very different From its predecessor I quite liked the Previous shoe but it was very different I think it could have benefited from the Extra foam that we are getting and Obviously the upgraded um one that we Saw in the scite V4 and I think ultim What that gives you I still think it Feels like quite low in terms of that Experience but I think ultimately it Does feel a lot more comfortable still Has that kind of you know responsive Kind of feel to it I'm I'm kind of a few Runs into it and again a bit like unic I Wasn't 100% convinced and I think the More running I've done in it I've start To appreciate when I've been running a Little bit harder uh doing harder Sessions in it has felt really nice and And I think it's it feels it feels like A different experience to me from the SC V4 but not necessarily a bad one I think It's it's just different and I do think Unlike the previous shoe this feels more Capable of being a shoe that you can you Know go longer than 5K and 10K I don't Think that's out of its remit to do that And I think it means it's it's a more Versatile version of the Pacer it's a Good way I think the the sizing was a Little bit off for me that's probably
You know New Balance sizing can be a Little bit off me around across their Shoes in general but I think in terms of What you're getting the upper in terms Of that kind of ride overall it feels Like a very polished kind of addition to Kind of New Balances kind of racing Focus carbon shoes and again it's one I Didn't absolutely you know fall in love With in the first run but I've I've Grown to like the shoe and I think it's A it's a slightly different experience Of the SE Elite V4 personally but I Don't you know I think there's a there's A nice far shoe there as well yeah it's Definitely got very dialed in fit which I think leans towards suggestion it's Mainly for shorter races I think there's Enough cushioning Under Foot there to Use this as a marathon Sho if you wanted To if you like a more direct feel it Certainly has a more direct field than The FC Elite before while still being You know quite High stack compared to Five years ago shoes and stuff like that Like I took this shoe out I actually did Another miles not mile I've done a lot Of miles sessions lately using two Different kinds of carbon shoes to B so I did I think the first four of Six Mile Reps in the SC pace of2 and was actually Really enjoying it I was running a Little bit better than I expected at the Time I was quite short recoveries I was
Running pretty good paces and then I Swapped to the SE Elite before for the Last two I expected it to be better Because previously when I'd run in both Of them at the same time it just felt Cushier bouncier the SE Elite before was Giving you the pace even though it was a Little bit heavier than the pace of V2 Actually doing it like that going into a Rep in that shoot just felt really Really unnatural and weird at first it Felt like the the pace of V2 had a much More natural fit for my stride it was Direct it was grounded it felt great I Could run fast but it was still getting That bounce the SE Le before felt really Rocket suddenly and really big and Springy and the second rep I didn't it I Kind of got used to it again it felt Good but actually made me appreciate the Pace of slightly more natural feel all Around also a shoe though with a bad Heel design and I did a 11 Mile running It the other day progression run and by The end like I hadn't actually broken The skin yet but I could tell it was Going to go so I think think actually The upper and the general Comfort around That might be what limits it in terms of Distance for me but the actual underfoot Feel is not dissimilar in terms of Stack I to things like the original vaporfly 4% so there is enough cushion there you Could use that as a longer shoe if you
Like that feeling I do think it's Actually a pretty impressive shoe around The downside of it is though for a lower Stack shoe you know the idea you want it To be really light and aggressive and Nimble it still weighs quite a lot more Than things like the aex metas speed Paris series The onclouds Boom strike LS So you know you want weight to be a Premium in that kind of shoe because That's what you're buying it for you Know a Nimble short racer and actually It's coming in heavier than quite a lot Of carbon shoes without the full stack Heite you know that that I think takes Away from it a little bit Yeah so the The biggest takeaway there is New Balance sort out you you he'll he'll put More padding put more padding now we've Got one from on a sha it's it's a lot of People have been interested in this shoe It's a strange looking shoe um and there Is another version of it I think so this Is the Oncloud boom strike LS yeah so the on Cloud boom strike is now their standard Top-of the range carbon plate racing Shoe which I think we've Not Included The on cloud boom Echo 3 in this video I Think it's a pretty good carbon shoe but The cloud boom strike I think is the Deao best on shoe and if you're looking At that brand I think this is the one to Go for you've got a higher stack of
Bounc of foam now the on cloud beom Strike LS is the light spray version so This is the one that Helen oir wore at The Boston Marathon the Olympic marathon With the sprayed on upper which you know Is made by a robot in a very short Amount of time it looks very cool and How they make it and it's creates this One piece upper that you basically slip Your foot into there's no laces or Anything like that there's no cushioning And it makes it a very lightweight upper So the actual oncloud beam strike LS is The one I've tested comes in around 193 GR in my UK size 9 which is very Lightweight like the only ones lighter I Think are the as6 metas speed shoes Whereas the standard Cloud boom strike Is a bit heavier and you that makes a Big difference and this upper has worked Really well for me but I think both Shoes are worth considering because on Has figured out their midsole um it's Definitely much more comfortable than We've had with on carbon plate racing SHO in the past a lot bouncier lighter Faster turnover they've got this the Layers of the Helen HF hyper foam they Their peber based foam and it's a bouncy Foam feels very good and just all around The geometry is much better underfoot And then with the on cloud boom strike LS you have got this really great upper On top that has certainly Pros in terms
Of being very lightweight and cons one Is that it's more expensive two is Obviously if the fit doesn't work for You it just doesn't work for you there's No adjustment there or anything like That so I have me and Tom actually both Seem to just get on the shoes quite well Well I think we've got quite narrow feet I can just slip it on in my normal UK Size 9 and I had no problems it held my Foot really tightly the upper didn't Stretch at all I've done over 100k in That shoe if you have more problems of Uppers and you slip it on it doesn't Work immediately the shoe I think is not Going to be very good for you and so That's why the on cloud beom strike we Haven't tested that shoe but if it's got The same underfoot feeling it's going to Be a great carbon shoe as well it's Probably the more reliable option the Slightly cheaper option I wonder if at Some point on is going to basically let People come into stores and have their Foot scanned to make this upper to fit Their feet because wouldn't surprise me Definitely uh well people have been Talking about that for for years haven't They the the personalized shoe upper and Yeah if and you don't because it fuses It onto the midar very quickly as well And because otherwise this is a big risk This upper star because yeah if it Doesn't fit right then game over you
Know send it back kind of thing yeah Yeah yeah or they could probably do it Where you do some sort of scan uh at Home on your phone or something and then Uh send it across yeah all all good Options could be coming to you but I did I got on very well with the upper and Because it makes a shoe lighter I like It really like the upper really like the Shoe one of my yeah right up there my Favorite shoes now I think I think Probably I put like the aex the Nike the On as my top five potential I the H Yellow X1 is such a good shoe just it's So bouncy but in terms of lightweight Fast races that I'd probably go out for PBS in the cloud beam strike is really Up there and the main thing about that Is the fact that H has figured out their Midell like the upper draws a lot of Attention and that's the version of the Shoe I've tested but actually it's just Great news that this midso is now better Higher performance Still paying that on premium no matter Which version of the shoe you go for We're not necessarily going not saying Go and get this ahead of the Astic shoes Or the pum shoes or the Nike shoes that Are a bit cheaper but yeah really good Shoe around the cloud beam strike High Praise yeah very high praise just so Expensive to yes yeah next up we got a Couple of sakon racing shoes now the
First one is the S endorphin Elite the Elite 2 has been launched now on a very Limited release it's fair to say I think It's more likely we're going to see this In bigger numbers probably even next Year so not going to discuss the elite To yet we haven't tried it it sounds a Bit softer than the elite which is a Really good racing shoot the so off for Elite it is quite a firm one it's got a Very aggressive rocker it's a very very Far shoe but one I think it's one that We probably use a bit sparingly I think We both run and raced quite well in the Shoe but it's not necessarily your Favorite right Tom yeah I actually had a Conversation about the elite a couple of Days ago um the the elite is one of the Weirdest shoes I've ever tested I have i At the time I got two PBS in but my half Marathon PB is still in the elite and I Still think it's the shoe I can run Fastest in it was I found it a very Excruciatingly difficult experience it's Such an aggressive shoe to wear that by The end of that half marathon my feet I Could really feel my feet put into a Position that wasn't very natural or Comfortable but fast um I I don't Particularly like the I don't like the Mle as much as I do in other shoes like The Ally I think it's just a little bit Firmer than I would normally like um and It's definitely that that that
Aggressive um toe off position it really Gets I definitely couldn't run a Marathon in that shoe I do think it's Incredibly fast I just don't think it's That comfortable yeah I agree with that I mean I had a bit of foot fatigue in That shoe after just a 10k race did a Half marathon I was really beaten up at The end of it and it's really fast like You say the foam I think is one of those Ones that's very high in energy return But gets quite feels a bit almost dense It's like very but you can really feel The bounce I think if you get on with The shoe and don't find that Uncomfortable I think it is one of the Fest shoes out there but I am glad to Hear that it's a bit softer with the Second version because I do think they Went all out want for energy return it End up quite a firm feeling shoe but Yeah The Rocker really aggressive and it Works well but maybe just a tad too Aggressive it's also quite an expensive Shoe although one that is in sales now Because it is again a bit older the new Version is coming out interested to see What happens with that so yeah one that I think probably is up there in terms of Pure speed but not one of our most Highly recommended carbon shoes just cuz It feels a bit much and I think for lots Of people it will just be a bit Aggressive which is Handy for sakon that
They then have another carbon racing Shoe that's very good in their lineup Which is the sakon Endorphin Pro 4 which Did come out this year now this is a Midsole which uses a top layer which is The same foam as in the S endorphin Elite and then a bottom layer which is The power R PB foam used in previous Models of the Endorphin Pro that dual Density approach makes it a little bit Less kind of firm and aggressive Under Foot I would say still got a very good Rocker again doesn't feel quite as Aggressive as the adorin elite but Actually a shoe I think that works Better for me and probably for lots of People because it is a little bit less Aggressive Tom you are a huge fan of the Dorphin Pro 3 Dophin Pro 4 how do you Feel about it uh I'm not as big of a fan As as I was of the Pro 3 I think thing I Liked about the pro three is that it Felt like very natural but that foam When it was a single foam um the power On PB it was it's quite soft it's Relatively soft foam it's also quite Bouncy that's how I I I've done loads of Races in that I've done two marathons in It I've got PBS in both of those Marathons that I I I ran in it and I Just find it to be a very comfortable uh Bouncy shoe that just sort of really Helps when you you know keeps your legs Fresh and just make sure have a nice
Consistent Pace I think with the Pro 4 Um I think it's it's peier I think you Can pick up the pace quicker in it I Think it is a faster shoe but for me it Just lacks it feels a little bit dull in Comparison to the Pro 3 it feels more Like a daily shoe to me not it's not 100% a daily shoe but I think it's more Daily than the Pro 3 would be for me see I have the exact opposite feeling about Those two shoes I love the Endor Pro 3 But found it over time maybe lost a Little bit of its responsiveness and Speed for racing and I almost view that More as a daily shoe a fantastic daily Shoe obviously it's a racing shoe but The northern Pro 4 I found was better For me in terms of maintaining fast Paces we did a 10K racing it fairly Recently and was pretty good for that But I did some really chunky marathon Training sessions for it at the start of The Year where I was consistently Impressed at how well it helped me Maintain a hard Pace in a long workout It felt like a really good shoe that I Could Cruise you know fast in for long Periods I definitely think the HG foam Help for me in it not bottoming out at Or anything like that and really give me That pop off the 4 foot where there's a Bigger chunk of the HD foam so I do Think it's a probably a more suitable Shoe still for people than the Su
Endorphin Elite um just because I think It just easier to get on with very and It's still a very vast shoe I think it's A shoe that is undermined a bit by there Being the Endorphin Elite because the Endorphin Pro 4 is still a very good Racing shoe that could be a top class Racing shoe for most people but if you See a shoe that's called the pro instead Of the elite you might be put off buying It but it's also okay value and one Again that pops up in SES so a really Good shoe to consider really nice Natural rocker feeling it's still more Of a natural shoe I think than many of The carbon shoes out there with that Rocker would you say uh yeah definitely Defin definitely if you if you wanted if You were new to come Racing shoes and You you just your daily shoes or Cushing Shoes before that would be one that I Would suggest going for because it's a Lot more accessible yeah and it's bit More stable as well I think building on That point so yeah a really good shoe All around like a lot and that is s Racers the elite and the profor next We're going to move on to Brooks's top Racing shoe the Hyperion Elite V4 or Just four I'm not sure if they have a V And the Brooks range and I think this is The best Brooks racer today I don't know Well Kier might not agree with me on That but I think it is I think it's the
Best Brooks racer today with a new Version of the DNA flash foam in general I think it's fair to say Brooks has Lagged behind a bit on carbon shoes they Haven't really gone all in on the very Soft and springy Foams you get from Other brands and that's still the case With the hyperian Elite 4 which has a Slightly firmer feel which does mean it Offers something a little bit different On the market but not necess sure for me That it's as impressive and dynamic and Lively as some of the best carbon shoes But it is a far shoe for sure right Kieran yeah the first time I really used This in anger I ran the Barcelona half Marathon and again I I feel like this is Perhaps a bit more work course than it Is Racehorse but it's a shuee that if You're willing to work a bit harder to Get more out of it then it does pay back It's not necessarily you know it's not a Carbon ratio I think that's sort of Driving you forward in the same way as Some of the other shoes but that doesn't Mean that it's not fast and it's not Kind of race ready for certain distances Maybe kind of hawks back a bit more of a Traditional shoe where you know you're Relying on some of the energy coming From you it's not giving you that kind Of support that shoes like the alpha fly Or the adios Pro 3 or you know the the
Aex metal speed Sky Paris might do in Terms of propelling you forward uh it's Just not the foam in the combo the plate You know it's just not as good as those Other shoes that said I don't I didn't Dislike it actually I really quite Enjoyed Racing in it but that's my my preference Sometimes is to to have a shoe that I'm Not relying on it to do all the work and I quite like the fact that it works but For me it sort of drops down almost into Again that sort of top end of a sort of Super trainer bracket and then when you Sort of throw in the price when it first Launched it just felt a little bit more Expensive and it just felt like Brooks Was just a couple of levels behind some Of the other shoes the other sort of um Competition I also did I did a marathon Test on my own in this shoe and I think The other end of this is that it's quite Accommodating if you're not necessarily Running at your best and you do want to Go to a sort of slightly sort of Middling or slower Pace or the wheels Come off whereas some of those other Shoes might not look after you I think This one can so you know one end you're Probably not getting that that Aggression that you might get from some Of the faster carbon shoes but there is A trade-off or there's a you know Silver Lining if you want to call it that where
You maybe it'll look after you a little More if you're not running so well You're not running so well who cares K Just walk walk to the end that's what I Say um yeah I agree with that like if The price is the problem it's a I likeed To run in but it didn't give me the Feeling that I was getting from the best Carbon shoes out there and even some of The really good super trainers we've Been testing I think would give it you Know pretty good run for its money so I Think Brooks probably has to look at the Foams at some point or just decide that This is an area they don't because Obviously they're killing it in the Training Market they've got loads of Great trainers that are very popular This is the sharp end of the wedge I Don't think it's as important Necessarily to the overall pris but it' Be nice to see a really fast Brooks Racer there because I would say probably Now most of the brands that I think were Lagging a little bit behind are now have Caught up I'd say over the last couple Of years hoker and on in particular made A couple of really good carbon Racing Shoes and they were also maybe not quite At the level of some others before but So yeah be to see what Brooks does it's A solid shoe but it's not one that I'd Put in the same tier as some most of the Others we've been talking about here
Next up we've got the Caton's top racing Shoe the Kyon KD 900x LD that's a lot of Numbers letters but it's the 900 xld it Is the successor to the 900 x the LD Stands for long distance because I think People felt maybe the first first the Cator and the carbon shoe was a bit Stiff and didn't really feel like a Marathan shoe this has a much softer Feel we've got a new version of their V Foam peber foam in the midsole we've got A higher stack in general the design is Now much more akin to what you see from Most Carbon raes on the market and I Think the underfoot feel has definitely Been improved of the shoe but we both Had some slight upper issues right Kieran yeah I mean I did a marathon test With this I think I S went pretty much Fresh out of the box to to a marathon And it it was great for much of that run And then I think you know into the Second half it started to cut underneath My ankle bone um the heel collars or the Collars there cut and also had quite a Lot of blistering and rubbing on both Shoes at the base of the Achilles and that yeah I mean that's Obviously a big limiting factor it Didn't seem to matter what I did in Order to get rid of that um yeah it's Never a good sign when shoes draw blood But is it was quite disappointing Because other than that on that run in
The marathon test you know I felt like They performed pretty well I think There's there's some familiarity here in Terms of the sort of geometry in the Shape and the way the uppers feel and The Precision the agility all of that Kind of stuff with the metas speed Sky Paris I don't think the foam and plate Combination are anywhere near as sort of Punch your as energetic or even perhaps As soft um and cushion comfortable but It's not a million miles away and I Wasn't necessarily expecting a huge Amount out of this shoe and I think it Kind of pleasantly surprised me apart From those fit issues again it's very I Found it kind of very stiff the plate And I quite like that has sort of Snappy Response and turnover um but the I think The foam lacks a little bit of energy There's not quite the kickback that you Might get from some of the other carbon Race shoes it is I I found it light and I found it sort of easy to run in but Yeah again I this is another shoe that I I sort of thought I'd be happy to do Shorter training efforts in this shorter Faster stuff but maybe not take it over The Long Haul I wouldn't pick it over Sort many other shoes and I think that Even though it's arguably kind a cheaper Price so that's obviously the big thing For the cathlon is to try and Pitch it At a price that makes it you know
Significantly cheaper whilst retaining Most of the performance benefits for the Most part they have achieved that with The uh the kd900 uh K 900x LD I think it Is an impressive racing shoe certainly Much more impressive than the first Version of the shoe which I actually Quite like but it was a very stiff and Firm shoe and was one that I'd confined To Shorter efforts for sure this one Feels much more like a racting shoe you Can do anything in if the fit works for You I was say I didn't get the heel Rubbing issue that and had I had the Plastic thing cutting underneath my Ankle but I did manage to kind of figure Out a system that meant that didn't Happen in my later runs in the shoe but It is a bit tricky and certainly Something that's a bit of a concern if You're looking at the long distances in Particular if you're also going to go And run with the marathon out of the box Like Kieran don't I'd say but um maybe Check that fit first but yeah I do think It's a big step up I think that phone's Really improved we can see it's some Other kiprun shoes as well going forward And I think it's all pointing in the Right direction it is good value is it's Good value at RRP you don't have to spy carbon shoes At RRP anymore I think that's the big Change in the last few years is you can
Go and find a very very very good carbon Shoe in a sale most of the time Especially around big sales events and That's probably more what the shoe is Competing with rather than saying it's You 100 quid cheaper than the AL or Something like that on RP but actually If you buy a vaporfly 2 in a sale or Vaporfly 3 even or the adios Pro 3 You're probably going to get it similar Price and I think it's still not quite That standard but I do think it is a Really good race shoe if you pick it up And you get on with the fit you will be Able to deliver your finest performances But I think it's still not quite as good As some of the best and it's cheap but It's not like must have cheap yeah I Think that's the really interesting Point is getting in that mix with those Shoes that you're going to be looking For deals on it's even like we just Mentioned the Under Armour there's There's going to be a lot of shoes that You'll be able to pick up comparative Price and how it Stacks up against them I think uh yeah may maybe it doesn't Look like qu quite such a good deal yeah But I excited to see the kathin move for Cuz I think it's of all the Gen one to Gen two developments I think it's one of The biggest step UPS I think in quality In terms of the ride that we've seen for Brands they are moving very fast and
That obviously bows well for the future But it's a really tricky thing to do Because if you price it too cheap people Will write it off and assume it's not as Good and then if you price it a bit more People go well I'll spend a little bit More and get one from a brand that's More recogniz yeah it's tough but it's a Good shoe okay next up we have something A bit more out there this is the only Shoe from this brand it's a new brand For us this year it's fair to say and Only Mike you you're the only person Who's tested the shoe so can you tell us A bit more about the diodora gar carbon Yeah so the gar carbon is Theodora's First carbon racing shoe and I would say A pretty kind of impressive kind of Debut shoe and you know in terms of Sitting it with other kind of com shoes We talked about the the stacks are Pretty similar pretty much where the aex Metas speed um Sky Paris and Sky edges In terms of that experience I think in Terms of the weight I think for me it Was kind of just over I think 210 G 21 Gr for UK size eight8 so not the Lightest shoe but still a very light Shoe now the big thing is it's it's out A premium it's kind of £250 so it's you Know it is setting itself right at you Know the top and in terms of experience I've had a really good time running in This shoe I think there are qualities
The qual you qualities that I kind of Associate with those metal speed juice It's not quite there but I think in Terms of that kind of really kind of Aggressive you know bouncy kind of just Enough bounce in that kind of midsole um It's there just a nice really nice Feeling for racing and I've done some Really nice short distance races I've Done some really nice kind of longer Kind of marathon pace runs in this and It has absolutely held up I do think There's a few little things I would Probably tweak I think the outso is Probably not fantastic in terms of Durability there's not a huge amount There I think the upper elements could Be tweaked a little bit but I think There's definitely something here I Don't think this is kind of deodor Saying oh we're doing a carbon racing Shoe and we'll see how it Go they've Made a very good shoe here it's you know Ultimately would you pay more for this Shoe over the other shoes that below it Which we're talking about the Met speed Sky pass pretty much all the gum R shoes We're probably going to talk about that Top tier probably not but if it can do Those extra things I think it would Probably put it you know a little bit More in line with those shoes and Slightly just I think if it was priced a Little bit closer I think it would you
Know there would be a debate for people To look at this shoe because I think They've done they've got a lot of things Right with the shoe and you know it's a Shoe that again I've I've enjoyed Running and it really kind of surprised Me in terms of my experience with it Brilliant yeah so definitely keep an eye On diodora in the coming years bit on Expected yeah it's nice when a brand Comes back in a big way and produces Something good but yeah one to look out For for sure next up we have one of the More out there carbon shoe designs which Is the Muno wave Rebellion Pro 2 now I Ended up taking quite a while to test The shoe cuz when I first pulled it on It felt just a little bit too much for Me I felt like I just I had a slightly Weird feeling in my legs and my feet After using it for a track session Because it's got a very aggressive Rocker it's got a huge heel cutout You've got a stack that is clearly over 40 millimet at the midfoot but they're Getting away with it because of the way The shoes are measured I guess but it's Unbelievably bouncy Tom you love a Bouncy shoe you love this shoe right for All that Pogo bounce yeah I do Absolutely love this shoe um it is a Funy shoe it's it's a shoe that you have To run in the right way to get the best Out of it um I think I have I've done a
Lot of training in it I did a lot of my Um Boston Marathon interval sessions and Stuff like that in that shoe and I Really enjoyed using it for those you Just bounced along it feels great um I've raced in it a couple of times Didn't really like it for racing it felt A bit awkward felt um uh it just I mean That bounce in that that rocker is a bit Overwhelming sometimes you can't really Run naturally in it um it's a fun shoe I I I love running in it uh but I wouldn't Use it for Marathon or half marathon That I really wanted to get a good time In yeah it's a bit weird it's one that I Got to think about where I'm going to Run if I'm going to go out and do it Because you don't be running on like Cambered pavement and stuff like that it Is a bit it's a bit all around it's it's It's interesting it actually is it's Quite accessible in terms of price it's Not only I've seen it reduced to Half Price already and but Muno Markus it as For sub 230 marathon runners I I don't Hold too much stock with that because I Think more how you get on with it will Depend a lot more on your gate and your Preferences and stuff like that I do Find I can run very fast in it I don't Necessarily feel like it's a shoe I'd Recommend people though like it's You' Got to really like that feeling and run I think landing on The Sweet Spot of
That midfoot which is it's not far off Where I land actually I'm running fast But over time over the course of a long Race even over a short race you get Tired towards the end it's hard to Maintain the position the shoe puts you In I think that is definitely a Challenges part of it so it is Definitely not the most successful one But it is very fun and it is very bouncy I it's hard to say a shoe that's Bouncier than that shoe um but it's very Particular in how you use it chances s If you're going to buy that shoe you're Going to have another race shoe as well Because you're not you're not going to Bought all your eggs in that basket it Might not work for you I've got I've got Friends that have bought it and really Just bought it because they were just Just wanted to see what it was like just Wanted to go and have some fun on some Runs it is good and it is one of the More interesting issues there I think a Lot of carbon shoes are getting a bit More homogenized these days because of The world Athletics regulations like There's a proven template that works and This is a bit out there a bit different A bit I mean theoretically should be Illegal given the height of the midfoot But isn't so but yeah very fun shoe but You got to work you got to work a bit Harder in it and I think if it doesn't
Work for you naturally it might not be One that's really a good idea to go and Do a marathon in like Tom says moving on To the under arour velocity Elite 2 I Don't think there's a flow in the name Of this one Kieran I know we're always a Bit confused by the amount of flow say This is quite a different carbon shoe to What you have on the market because I I The drop is listed at different things Different places but this feels like a Very low Drop shoe to me it feels like a Shoe that very much suits a 4 foot Strike to me I find and I enjoyed it Quite a bit when I was doing intervals Shorter intervals than the shoe but Trying to cruise through longer hard Runs I didn't enjoy quite as much I Don't think necessarily getting as much Back they have put some more peber in The midsole here compared to the first Version but it's still quite a weighty Shoe and not necessarily one that I Think delivers the same amount of punch You can get elsewhere but it's a great Looking shoe what do you think about it Kar yeah I mean again it's another shoe From Under Armor that I kind of put in The bracket it's sort of good but not Great it's got a slightly odd shape I Think there's a sort of really Pronounced rocker even though you got That low Drop there's a really Pronounced rocker that for me it works
Because I tend to strike kind of mid to Four foot and when I'm up on on my toes And running well I think the shoe Performs best if you sort of slow down a Bit there's a sort of slightly strange Feeling where you I feel like you've got This kind of bowl of of foam underneath The ball of your foot and it doesn't Feel quite so natural one thing I really Like about under ARS rati shoes is I Think they have good stepping Comfort They've got sort of breathable Airy kind Of uppers and they feel quite natural in Terms of the way they kind of Lac onto The foot almost sort of the opposite I Think to the Adidas adios Pro 3 um I Think the Shands in the sort of firmer And stiffer basket which is something I Also respond well to and it definitely Has a bit more inph than the original Elite it's one of the shoes that I'd say You know if I stuck on an island and This was the only shoe to run in I had To run fasten it I'd probably be Perfectly happy with it when you put it Up against some of the competition I Still think that this shoe lags behind And I'm not entirely convinced by that Overall ride that you get again I I Think it's sort of almost drops down Into a shoe that I'd be happy to do more Of my faster training in and then I'd Maybe swap to other shoes that I think Would perform better on race day yeah I
Think compared to the first one it does Feel faster the first one I think had The quality though of being a shoe you Could use almost every day think it felt Like quite a you know good all rounder Shoer but this one feels much more fast And for me like I say feels much more Like an interval shoe almost for me with My running style as a more shuffly heel Striker but I liked it okay did run a Park Runner and enjoyed it enough but I Think under Arma has to make quite a big Change to this design I think to make it Competitive I think you got to drop the Because it's dual density midsole you've Got the flow foam underneath I think That makes it a heavy shoe it feels a Little bit bottom heavy to me at times You don't I think it mutes the bounce of Their peber foam which I think we still Haven't really felt at its best yet Because it's always paired with this Flow phone so I think they might have to Go to a full P midsole it's the kind of Thing where in my mind the brand already Has you know a third or fourth version Of this that will be a full P mid I want To get there I want to get there already And just try that because this Shue Doesn't quite hit the standards of Others but yeah the upper is certainly Very good put that up on an ad that shoe That'll be talking um but for now notan I think that stands out although again
Is one that goes for unbelievable prices At times like it was it was already at Half price I think in some places when We first reviewed it yeah yeah and I Think if that's the thing for for some People this would be like a really good Bargain sort of fast a potential ratio I Think but wouldn't necessarily be top of The pile
